The Battle of Twthill took place at
Caernarfon
Caernarfon (; ) is a royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). It lies along the A487 road, on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is ...
in North Wales on 2 November 1401 during the revolt of
Owain Glyndŵr
Owain ap Gruffydd (), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr or Glyn Dŵr (, anglicised as Owen Glendower), was a Welsh leader, soldier and military commander who led a 15 year long Welsh War of Independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wa ...
.
[Ieuan Wyn, 'Codi Baner Y Ddraig Am Y Tro Cyntaf', ''Y Faner Newydd'' 27 (2004), pp. 42–3.] Glyndŵr's success at the
Battle of Mynydd Hyddgen
The Battle of Mynydd Hyddgen was a battle between the Welsh and English in June 1401. It was part of the Welsh revolt led by Owain Glyndŵr against English rule that lasted from 1400 to 1415. Its location was on the western slopes of Pumlum ...
the previous June had provided the revolt with fresh impetus, and the battle may be seen as indicative of his determination to foster revolt in the north-west after months of relative inaction in that area. In symbolic terms, the battle is most famous as the first occasion on which Glyndŵr flew his flag bearing a golden dragon on a white field, recalling the symbolism of
Uther Pendragon
Uther Pendragon (Brittonic) (; cy, Ythyr Ben Dragwn, Uthyr Pendragon, Uthyr Bendragon), also known as King Uther, was a legendary King of the Britons in sub-Roman Britain (c. 6th century). Uther was also the father of King Arthur.
A few m ...
, and thereby more solidly drawing comparisons between his revolt and Welsh political mythology of the time, which drew heavily on the image of the ''
mab darogan Y Mab Darogan ( meaning "The Destined/prophesied Son" or "Son of Destiny") is a messianic figure of Welsh legend, destined to force the Germanic Anglo-Saxons and Vikings out of Britain and reclaim it for its Celtic Briton inhabitants. A number of ...
'' or chosen son, who would free Wales from subjugation.
Little is known about the particulars of the fighting; the battle ended inconclusively, with 300 Welsh soldiers reported dead, but the isolation of Caernarfon and Glyndŵr's ability to attack English positions in Wales with impunity was amply demonstrated.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuthill, Battle of 1401
Battles involving Wales
15th century in Wales
Conflicts in 1401
1401 in Wales
Glyndŵr Rising